Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-15
The Bahama Banks.

There Is not a more interesting gpo
on earth or sea than the Bahama banks
TO know about them as you may by {
leisurely sail over them from four tt
six knots an hour, as was made by oul
heavily-laden but sturdy old craft, viii
pay for many rough hours expert
ence in advance. Everybody knows
that somewhere off our Florida coas
are the Bahama banks; but whether
they are banks of sand, or mud, OF
oyster shells, or are the magical things
they are, few but seafaring men know
OF care. Even the latter are by nc
means generally informed about them
for vessels drawing more than ffteer
feet of water can not cross them. The
banks proper begin at Matinella, OPP
posite the Florida bay of St. Lucie
They extend in a southeasterly direc.
ton, gradually increasing in width tC
point opposite the southeast coast Of
Florida, from thence growing narrow
Ell and preserving a surface regularity
generally conforming with the chain
of islands themselves, terminating il
Navidad bank, just above the north.
east coast of Cuba. Their length is
nearly one thousand miles, and their
width varies from fifty to two hundred
miles. TO the east they merge into
the Bahama islands, but on the west
soundings of eight hundred fathoms
have been made from the almost per-
pendicular sides of the marvellous
creations of marine life; for every atom
of this almost inconceivable formation
is the result of insect labor.
To secure some little idea of this
deep-sea wonder close our eyes for a
moment and imagine chain OF
mountains, thousands OF feet in height,
against one side of which stands pre-
cipitous mass like fossilized honey
comb, white as snow, extending
thousands of miles, and rising like a
wall to nearly the elevation of the
highest peaks, and whose upper sur
face, for all this distance, is as level as
a floor. That's exactly what you could
see here, could the ocean be sucked
dry and you be allowed to stand in the
tremendous channel where the gulf
stream chafes and surges eternally.
The width of the banks at Hole in
the Wall is no more than seventy five
miles, but the course sailed without
exception by vessels bound for Cuba
bears so far to the south that the dis
lance is trife over 125 miles. Every
inch of this alabaster-like surface can
be seen from your vessels deck.
Station sailor amidships and let him
''heave the Lead every five minutes
during the whole distance, and he will
call out all day long. 1.-TWO an q half
fathom, sir" Two an three-quarter
fathom, sir" 1.-TWO an half, STRIP
''an' three-quarter, sir!' until the same
ness in tone and depth would be start
ling.
The water itself is remarkable in
brilliancy OF color and translucence.
Such shades of green were never else
where seen. The lace-like fringes
of every Waye-cap or rolling scroll of
water is seen threaded with emerald,
glittering among the snowy white
with sparkle, CLEAN and simmer
that are enhancing. And what rare
and wondrous treat it is to stand the day
through at the vessel rails and peer
down into this crystal space where the
witching forms of sea life move in their
eternal ways and silences, with such
friendly, such loving nearness! Why,
it seems that you can step out upon
this binding floor of white, and wander
at will with these sprites of the sea!